Second body found at Bosley mill

A second body has been found in the search for four people missing after a fire and explosion at a factory on the edge of the Peak District.

Emergency services were called to Wood Flour Mills in Bosley, near Macclesfield at 9.12am on Friday.

There were a number of explosions at the site, with a four-storey building collapsing.

Rescue workers have since been tirelessy searching for three men and a woman who have been unaccounted for since Friday.

One body was found on Sunday night and today (Tuesday), crews have recovered a second body. No formal identification has yet taken place.

A joint investigation is being undertaken by police, the fire service and the Health and Safety Executive to establish the cause of the incident.

Paul Hancock, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Chief Fire Officer, said crews were working hard in tough circumstances to try and locate the missing people.

He added: “The scene remains that of total devastation and so crews are facing some big, big challenges but they are working extremely hard to painstakingly search through the debris and progress is being made.”

On Monday afternoon, the government’s Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser Peter Holland CBE visited the site and saw the devastation first hand.

“This is a very testing incident from many perspectives,” he said. “I am very impressed with how firefighters have dealt with the explosion and fire.

“They have also carried out outstanding environmental protection to remove fire and chemical pollutants from the adjacent river. My thoughts go out to all involved.”